New Parisian Perspective

This April, I spent 6 days in Paris. I hadn’t been back since June 2016 and this time it wasn’t for work, it was for vacation. 

I made sure to sign up for a few Airbnb Experiences and because of my wonderful photowalk in Florence, I signed up for another photowalk first. 

The Photowalk I took was along the Canal St. Martin and Bassin de la Villette and ended near Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad. This walk was less about street style portraits and more about learning about and photographing the street art in Paris, though I did encounter one subject who asked for her photo to be taken. 

She saw me and the photographer who lead the photowalk walking along the canal, and asked for me to take her photo (in French, and thank goodness I had a Parisian with me or I wouldn’t have understood what she was saying). When I agreed, she passed her jacket to her friend and began posing.

Our session lasted for about 15 frames of full on modeling until she asked how she looked and I told her she looked beautiful; she thanked us both and walked away with her friend. She didn’t ask for her photos or how she could get them, she just posed went on her way. 

Earlier, I had been told about the French Privacy Law and how in France each individual has the exclusive right to their image and of who uses their image. So if at some point I have to take down this photo, I’ll be fully aware of the reasons why! 

Along the Canal de l’Ourcq there are lots of murals (some commissioned by the city and some not), some smaller installations, and tons of graffiti. I got to see more of Invader’s work, but also some of the l’Ourcq Living Colors murals which was super exciting to see. 

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a Tribe Called Quest fan (even as a Seattleite turned Brooklynite) and seeing the Phife Dawg mural in Paris, 3,625 miles away from New York was something truly special.

It’s moments like these where I feel like the universe is booping me as a reminder that some things are just innately good and felt regardless of language or cultural barriers.

We are all connected.


© Janae Jones Photography. All rights reserved.
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